Australia Football team 2018

Fifa Ranking: 39

History:

The first Australia national team was constituted in 1922 for a tour of New Zealand, which included two defeats and a draw. For the next 36 years, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa became regular opponents in tour (exhibition) matches. During that period, Australia also competed against Canada and India during their tours of Australia in 1924 and 1938 respectively.Australia recorded their worst ever defeat on 30 June 1951 as they lost 17–0 in a match to a touring England side. Australia had a rare opportunity to compete on the world’s stage during the team’s very first major international tournament as hosts of the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. However, an inexperienced squad proved to be the reason for the team’s disappointing performance. With the advent of cheap air travel, Australia began to diversify its range of opponents. However, its geographical isolation continued to play a role in its destiny for the next 30 years.

After failing to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in 1966 and 1970, losing in play-offs to North Korea and Israel respectively, Australia finally appeared at their first World Cup in West Germany, 1974. After managing only a draw from Chile and losses from East Germany and West Germany, the team which was made up of mostly amateur players was eliminated at the end of the first round, finishing last in their group without scoring a goal. It would prove to be the only appearance for the Australian team until the World Cup tournament returned to Germany more than three decades later in 2006. Over a 40-year period, the Australian team was known for its near misses in its attempts to qualify for the World Cup; they lost play-offs in 1966 to North Korea, 1970 to Israel, 1986 to Scotland, 1994 to Argentina, 1998 to Iran and 2002 to Uruguay.

Australia In Fifa World Cup:

The Australian national soccer team represents Australia in international men’s soccer. Officially nicknamed the Socceroos, the team is controlled by the governing body for soccer in Australia, Football Federation Australia (FFA), which is currently a member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the regional ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) since leaving the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) in 2006.

Australia is the only national team to have been a champion of two confederations, having won the OFC Nations Cup four times between 1980 and 2004, as well as the AFC Asian Cup at the 2015 event on home soil. The team has represented Australia at the FIFA World Cup tournament on five occasions, in 1974 and from 2006 to 2018. The team has also represented Australia at the FIFA Confederations Cup four times.

Coach:

BERT VAN MARWIJK:

image source:-www.google.com

Bert van Marwijk was appointed Australia coach in January, having assumed the reins from Ange Postecoglou who resigned after the Socceroos qualified in November 2017. The 65-year-old Van Marwijk has significant experience, most notably leading his native Netherlands to the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final. He also helped Saudi Arabia reach Russia 2018 ending their 12-year World Cup drought.

Goal:

AUS – SYR (2-1) 10 OCT 2017:

A textbook Tim Cahill header sent Australia past Syria in the Asian playoff, with the Socceroos’ Mr. Reliable rising highest in the depths of extra-time to keep their Russian dreams alive.

Star Player:

TIM CAHILL:

image source:-www.google.com

The evergreen Australian forward is seemingly getting better with age, having netted 11 goals on the road to Russia, including several trademark headers.Scorer of one of the most spectacular goals of Brazil 2014, Cahill could become one of the few players to score at four World Cups.